U.S. patent number 7,333,832 [Application Number 10/859,230] was granted by the patent office on 2008-02-19 for cellular phone capable of measuring temperature by ir means.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Inventec Appliances Corporation. Invention is credited to David Ho, Tony Tsai, Jing Zhen, Yi-Min Zhu.
United States Patent |
7,333,832 |
Tsai , et al. |
February 19, 2008 |
Cellular phone capable of measuring temperature by IR means
Abstract
The present invention is to provide a cellular phone capable of
measuring temperature including a liquid crystal display, a CPU and
an IR temperature measurement means coupled to the CPU, wherein a
first GPO pin and a second GPO pin of the CPU are adapted to
control power supply of a power supply IC and start or stop of the
IR temperature measurement means respectively, and in response to
receiving a temperature measurement signal, the CPU performs a
plurality of processing and conversion steps to show a
corresponding temperature on the display.
Inventors: |
Tsai; Tony (Taipei Hsien,
TW), Ho; David (Taipei Hsien, TW), Zhen;
Jing (Shanghai, CN), Zhu; Yi-Min (Shanghai,
CN) |
Assignee: |
Inventec Appliances Corporation
(Taipei Hsien, TW)
|
Family
ID: |
35449649 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/859,230 |
Filed: |
June 3, 2004 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20050272468 A1 |
Dec 8, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/556.1;
374/E13.003; 455/550.1; 455/556.2; 455/90.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01J
5/02 (20130101); G01J 5/04 (20130101); G01J
3/0264 (20130101); G01J 3/0283 (20130101); H04M
2250/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04M
1/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;455/556.1,550.1,556.2,90.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Le; Lana
Assistant Examiner: Hsieh; Ping Y
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bacon & Thomas, PLLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cellular phone capable of measuring temperature including: a
power supply IC for supplying power, a CPU including a plurality of
pins, wherein a first GPO pin of the CPU is coupled to an enable
pin of the power supply IC, an IR temperature measurement means
including a plurality of pins each coupled to a corresponding one
of the pins of the CPU and a power supply pin for receiving power
from the power supply IC, wherein a data pin and a clock pin of the
IR temperature measuring means are coupled to a data pin and a
clock pin of the CPU respectively, such that in an unused state
with no temperature being measured, power supply from the power
supply IC to the IR temperature measurement means is cut, and an
active pin of the IR temperature measurement means is coupled to a
second GPO pin of the CPU for controlling the start or the stop of
the IR temperature means, and an IR sensor coupled to the IR
temperature measurement means for sensing temperature, wherein in
response to receiving a temperature measurement signal from the IR
temperature measurement means, the CPU enables the first GPO pin to
be at a low level so that the power supply IC is able to supply
power to the IR temperature measurement means; and enables the
second GPO pin to be at a low level after a predetermined period of
time has lapsed so that the IR temperature measurement means is
able to send measured temperature data to the CPU via the data pins
thereof.
2. The cellular phone of claim 1, wherein the IR temperature
measurement means comprises an ASIC for amplifying, correcting,
compensating, and performing an A/D conversion with respect to
analog data obtained by the IR sensor, and the processed data is
sent to a data pin of a bus prior to output.
3. The cellular phone of claim 2, wherein the cellular phone
further comprises a phone body including a display for showing
data, a keypad, a microphone, a speaker, and an antenna, and the IR
sensor is formed at one end of the cellular phone.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to cellular phones, and more
particularly to a cellular phone capable of measuring temperature
by an IR (infrared) means, including a liquid crystal display, a
CPU and IR temperature measurement means coupled to the CPU, for
performing not only the functions of communication but also the
functions of a temperature measurement gun.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The world we are living in has entered into a new era with
information technology and electronics being progressed rapidly.
All kinds of information products and peripherals are invented due
to the fast progress in computer science and technology. The fast
development of such new products brings much convenience to our
daily life. In response to various kinds of consumer electronic
products being developed, most users become more critical with
respect to the features and/or quality thereof.
The demand for IR temperature measurement guns and non-contact type
IR thermometers has increased steadily before 2003. Further, the
demand for such electronic products has risen significantly since
the outbreak of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) in
2003.
Conventionally, most electronic products of the type available on
the market have a single feature with disadvantages of being high
in the manufacturing cost and not easy to carry. Moreover, people
may feel inconvenience by carrying a temperature measurement gun
for measuring temperature anyplace anytime.
Thus, it is desirable to incorporate an IR means in a cellular
phone to form a novel cellular phone so as to meet the large demand
for such electronic products on the market and thus increase the
market share. In other words, the novel cellular phone not only can
operate as a typical cellular phone but also can operate as a
typical temperature measurement gun. As such, there is no need of
carrying an additional temperature measurement gun simply for the
purpose of temperature measurement. As an end, the above problem is
solved. Moreover, such novel product definitely can contribute much
to the sale of cellular phones produced by a cellular phone
manufacturer. In addition, the novel product is beneficial to the
vast consumer. In view of above, the development and availability
of the multifunctional cellular phone are very important to the
cellular phone manufacturers.
Typically, people like to carry a cellular phone. Thus, it is
convenient for a person to make or receive a call anywhere anytime.
It is envisaged that a minimum modification of hardware and
software of a cellular phone can embody the novel cellular phone
with a minimum increase of the manufacturing cost. Such not only
decreases the financial burden borne on the consumer but also
increases the sale of cellular phones.
It is understood that the sale growth of temperature measurement
guns is closely related to the outbreak of SARS. But this does not
mean that such electronic products are short-term products. To the
contrary, in one aspect SARS has awakened people about the
importance of health products. Thus, the market of such electronic
products is still good in terms of long period of time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a cellular
phone capable of measuring temperature as a typical IR temperature
measurement gun in addition to making or receiving a call. The
present invention can bring a great convenience to users since
people like to carry a cellular phone anywhere. The present
invention further provide a cellular phone capable of measuring
temperature including a liquid crystal display, a CPU, IR
temperature measurement means including a plurality of pins each
coupled to a corresponding one of a plurality of pins of the CPU, a
power supply IC for supplying power to the IR temperature
measurement means, and an IR sensor wherein a first GPO pin and a
second GPO pin of the CPU are adapted to control power supply of
the power supply IC and start or stop of the IR temperature
measurement means respectively, and in response to receiving a
temperature measurement signal, the CPU performs a plurality of
processing and conversion steps to show a corresponding temperature
on the display. By utilizing the present invention, the above
drawbacks of the prior art can be overcome. These drawbacks are
that most prior IR temperature measurement guns and non-contact
type IR thermometers available on the market have a single feature
with disadvantages of being high in the manufacturing cost and not
easy to carry.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description taken with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional IR
temperature measurement device;
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a cellular phone
incorporating the IR temperature measurement device in FIG. 1
thereinto to form a cellular phone of the invention;
FIG. 3 is a top view of the cellular phone in FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary data format according to the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The invention is directed to a cellular phone capable of measuring
temperature by an IR (infrared) means. Currently, there is a type
of much compact IR temperature measurement device available on the
market as a result of the fast progress of semiconductor based
sensor technology. The IR temperature measurement device comprises
an IR sensing probe and a specially designed signal processing
circuit. Thus, the IR temperature measurement device has advantages
of being simple in use, inexpensive, and high in reliability and
accuracy.
In view of above, it is possible of incorporating the IR
temperature measurement device in a cellular phone. As shown in
FIG. 1, a commercially available IR temperature measurement device
10 comprises an IR sensor 11 and an ASIC (application specific
integrated circuit) 12. The ASIC 12 is adapted to amplify, correct,
compensate, and perform an A/D (analog-to-digital) conversion with
respect to analog data obtained by the IR sensor 11. Such processed
data is sent to an I2C (inter-integrated circuit) of a bus prior to
output.
As shown in FIG. 1, the ASIC 12 comprises five pins, namely, a
power (VDD) pin operative in the range from 2.5V to 3.6V, an I2C
data (DATA) pin, an I2C clock (CLOCK) pin, a ground (GND) pin, and
an active (ACTIVE) pin. When the ACTIVE pin receives a low level
signal, the IR temperature measurement device 10 begins to measure
temperature. To the contrary, when the ACTIVE pin receives a high
level signal, the IR temperature measurement device 10 stops the
measurement.
A CPU (central processing unit) of cellular phone has at least one
I2C in its bus. Thus, the IR temperature measurement device 10 can
be easily incorporated into the circuitry of cellular phone.
Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a preferred embodiment of
cellular phone 30 having the IR temperature measurement device 10
incorporated into its circuitry. As shown, a power supply IC
(integrated circuit) 20 is adapted to supply power to the IR
temperature measurement device 10. The I2C DATA pin and the I2C
CLOCK pin of the IR temperature measurement device 10 are coupled
to an I2C DATA pin and an I2C CLOCK pin of a CPU 31 of the cellular
phone 30 respectively. At the same time, a GPO1 (general purpose
output) pin and a GPO2 pin of the CPU 31 are adapted to control the
power supply of the power supply IC 20 and the start or stop of the
IR temperature measurement device 10 respectively.
In FIG. 2, the GPO1 pin of the CPU 31 is coupled to an enable (EN)
pin of the power supply IC 20 so that the power supply IC 20 can be
enabled again as commanded by an instruction received from the CPU
31 via the EN pin once an interrupt is removed. In an unused state
(i.e., no temperature measurement), power supply to the IR
temperature measurement device 10 is cut so as to prolong the
operating time of the battery in the cellular phone 30.
Moreover, the GPO2 pin of the CPU 31 is coupled to the ACTIVE pin
of the IR temperature measurement device 10 for controlling the
start or stop of the IR temperature measurement device 10. In an
unused state of the IR temperature measurement device 10, the CPU
31 causes both the GPO1 and GPO2 pins to be in a high level. At
this time, the power supply IC 20 in FIG. 2 is disabled. That is,
no power is supplied to the IR temperature measurement device 10.
Also, the VDD pin of the IR temperature measurement device 10 in
FIG. 2 is 0V.
Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a top view of the cellular
phone 30 incorporating the IR temperature measurement device 10
thereinto. As shown, the cellular phone 30 has the same appearance
as a typical one. The cellular phone 30 comprises a phone body 32
including a display 33 for showing data or the like, a keypad 34, a
microphone 35, a speaker 36, and an antenna 37. The IR sensor 11 is
formed at one end of the cellular phone 30 spaced from the antenna
37. The cellular phone 30 is implemented as a hinge type cellular
phone in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, while it is appreciated by
those skilled in the art that the hinge type cellular phone may be
replaced by another type of cellular phone (e.g., a hinge-less type
cellular phone (not shown)) in any other embodiments without
departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
In such a manner, a user may select a "temperature measurement"
option of "menu" on the cellular phone 30 for causing the IR sensor
11 to measure temperature. Also, the CPU 31 causes the GPO1 pin to
be at a low level. At this time, the power supply IC 20 in FIG. 2
begins to supply power to the IR temperature measurement device 10.
The power supply IC 20 will supply a constant power after a
predetermined period of time (e.g., in the order of several
microseconds). And in turn the GPO2 pin is at a low level. At this
time, the IR temperature measurement device 10 begins to send the
measured temperature data to the CPU 31 via the I2C thereof. The
sent temperature data is required to comply with the specifications
of the I2C bus. At the same time, detailed temperature data formats
can be referred to the specifications of respective IR temperature
measurement devices 10 produced by the manufacturers. Note that
different IR temperature measurement devices 10 may have different
data formats.
Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown an exemplary data format
according to the invention. As shown, there are provided data
formats of a CLOCK pin, a DATA pin, and a message format to be
sent. The message format comprises an Item (item), a MSB (most
significant bit), a LSB (least significant bit), a SUM (sum), and a
CR (carriage return). In a case of the ACTIVE pin being at a low
level, the CPU 31 receives temperature data measured by the IR
temperature measurement device 10. Each record of data is 40 bit
long in which Item is 8 bit long for representing data to be sent
including ambient temperature, target temperature, system
parameters, etc. Specific codes in the Item may be varied depending
on the IR temperature measurement devices 10. Following are a 8 bit
high, a 8 bit low, a 8 bit checksum, and a 8 bit data end. The
binary temperature data is converted into a corresponding Celsius
or Fahrenheit degree prior to showing on the display 33 of the
cellular phone 30.
Time taken for finishing the above procedure is substantially less
than 1 second. Further, temperature update can be done in about 1
to 2 times per second. Hence, it is convenient in use. The
precision of the temperature measurement depends on the type of the
IR temperature measurement device 10 being used. Generally, after
considering the cost factor, a precision in the range of
0.2.degree. C. to 0.5.degree. C. is sufficient for temperature
measurement.
While the invention has been described by means of specific
embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made
thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the
scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.
* * * * *